The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-23


Charm an Grose-Is liquor kept about the Offices of
DR.. Thomas and DIR. Fletcheri
Witness-Not that know OF.
Representative Gordon. of Putnam-Do you know
whether DIR. Fletcher is an habtual drinker notl
Witness-He takes his drink.
you can tell he is under the influence of Iquorl
WIt1ess,No, sir; not that could tell
Mr ne at any time within the last two
years drunk IN SUCH way as to produce continuing
effect npon his countenancel
Witness-No. sir
nance?
Witness-That is an unfair question. I am not
Judge Roberts-I want this thing to be thorough. I
don want anybody to escape
MI. Swlft-Cannot you see from his (Dr. Thomas's)
countenance that he is a drinker?
Wltness-Someti1nes you can.
Mr. cwift-Sometimes you almost light match
on It, can't you?
Wltness-No, sir.
Judge Roberts.Was not DR. Fletcher intoxicated
during the visit of the committee to the hospitala
Wltness-No, sir do not know that.
Judge Roberts--How ofte1k have you Dr.
Fletcher exharated during the past two years from
Witness-I cannot give any answer. because
give no definite answer.
Chairman Grose-You have exciting times about
politics therea
Witness-I take no part in politics. Ivote; that's
ALL am no. politician.
Judge Roberts-How often have you observed DIR.
Thomas exhilarated?
Witness-I do not know that ever saw him exhil-
arated.
Mr.. Loop-What was the amount of your assess
nent tor campaign purposes?
Wltness-l never was assessed
The witness. upon being questioned by Mr..
Grifhths said he remembered paying $40 at one
| times at other times 50 or SO and S.. Paid the
money to an employee of the asylum, but did not
remember whom. He was sure it was not to
| Mr.. Hall.
| Mrs. Ellen Allen, in charge of the cooking at
the Hospital for the Insane, testified to the gen
| eral good quality of the food. Since last June
she has attended to the cooking for twentyfour
wards. She said that at times the meat had
| been tough the vegetables sometimes
pretty old, the bread occasionally sour, and the
\ butter at times very strong.
The next witness was Frances A. Talbot, a
| lady with q broad forehead, keen eye. q good
| use OF words, with slight Irish accent and
who. by her straight away answers, soon receiv-
| ed the complete attention of every She
| said she would have been employed at the hos
pital for five years the 1st of March next: that
| she first served for two and onehalf years
attendant in ward No. 3, female department..
| She next had charge of the ironing-room in the
| department. for women. and then DR.. Fletcher
placed her In the eighteenth ward of the depart
| ment for women. She remained there until
made matrou of Fl ward department for men,
| which place she now holds.
| (Which is most difficult to take care Of men
| women?
| A.-Why women three times I went on that
duty the first day of last August. There is no
cruelty to patients in my ward. At time the first
day or two after went in the ward there was an at
tendant placed the ward really afraid of the pa
tents, and he kicked of my patients reported
him to Dr. Fletcher and he discharged him for it. His
name was Joe Sullivan.
Q.-Do You sometimes get strong butterl
Ayes, the butter was not good. The bread. with
| rare exceptionssis good.
| Judge Roberts-How often. take it the year round
by the week do you Dr. Thomas and DR.. Fletcher!
Witness see Dr. Thomas nearly every day.
Judge Robert-So with DIR. Fletcher!
| Wtness-Yes sir; but not frequently as DR..
| Thomas.
Judge Roberts-win you have the goodness to tell
the committee what you know of the sobriety of Dr.
| Fletcher?
witness-what is that. sirl Will you state that
| againe l do not understand you.
| Judge Roberts-How often have you seen him
der tie influence of liquor in the last yeara AS
| as you can remember how many timesl
| Witness-I cannot say ever saw him drunk.
Judge Roberts-U nder the influence of liquor!
Witness-When man is sober, he is not drunk
when drunk he is not sober.
Judge Roberts-The point is, now often have yor
seen either of these gentlemen drunk
Witness flushed and indignant)-Not at ALL.
nvs - saw DR. Thomas that j Thought he drank any
thin; can say never DIR. Fletcher withis. the
last year. as you said
Mr. Gordon asked the witness to tell wha
change took place after DR.. Rogers left and DR.
Fletcher came in superintendent.
| Witness-Oh it is palace to what it was under DR.
Rogers. After the restraints were abolished it wal
like transit from hell to heaven. When the re
strants taken off it was found the people were
| not crazy a. all. Let explain to you, sirs my
own responsibility. Take person, put CANA
| q
him sit there all day at night put him in crib will
a camasole and let him sleeo there Tell me if tina
man is not crazy next morning! If he isn't, he il
| proof.
This tribute to Dr. Fletcher quite took ava,
the breath Of some of the Democratic members
Mr.. Nohn-Is there anything you need further thar
you have that could add to the comfort and
of your family CMeanns the ward in her charge)
, | Witness-They appreciate dress much SAINT
, | people. Many sensitive than the majority
of sane people These people should be well dressed
would have better results You teach them wher
I Sunday comes that they must put on their Sunday
clothes that they must go dances and plays and
be dressed because they meet strangers. They ask
for their clothing and it is exceedingly unfortunat
we do not have good clothing to put on them. hav
talked Mrs. Fletcher particularly on this subject
find such things do more good than anything els
that can be suggested.
Mr.. Griffiths-Have you contributed anything in tn
way of political assessments?
Witness-I gave nothing in the way of political a.
sessment gave So, one time, to my party. That
the most ever gave.
e Mr.. Grifiths-To whom did you give it.
Witness-There is nothing criminal about it. Their
, isn't of you that has here without paying
+ | assessment.
Mr.. Grifiths-That is too true.
Chairman Grose-What are your wages!
!, ~Witness-I get $50 month now.
James Hunt testified that he had been butche
at the Hospital for the Insane for nineteen years
He didn't think the hogs that died had died {
hog cholera. He didn't know how many ha
died. When the witness wanted 70 kill he wer
to the drove and picked out good hog. He wa
> not an expert and a bog might have the beginnin
. of disease. He sorted out one lot of hos
= and kept them two weeks to experiment OF
That was the only lot taken from til
) drove. Some of the neghbors said the hospit'
% hogs had cholera. None of the hogs sorted OF
> in that one lot died. It was his opinion that til
:, :. hogs died from eating too rich slops.
2 Fl. L. Hyde, assistant storekeeper, was tt
. last witness called. Mr.. Hyde had nothing to I
% with receiving or rejecting goods, and his test
x mony was of little value.
!. The committee then adjourned until O clot
. this morning.
&c BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
ID